"I was tasked to convince any of the four of you awakened on the candidate list to take the job but none of you take it. Actually we were already briefly informed about Archie's case but I guess the decision has been already made. Due to your younger age you are actually not qualified for the selection but due to the insistence of Lieutenant Soreso saying he will personally guide you and join you as your advisor, we just let the age off the hook. But to think you would suggest to make Lieutenant Soreso lead it instead and just support him is something that didn't cross our minds. It's a good decision considering how experience of a person the Lieutenant is but I still have to talk to the president and discuss this thing before I could say anything." The spoke person gently said.
"That's fine but please relay this message to the president as well." I said.
"Please tell us."
"I won't take the initiative to repair cities within Luzon or Visayas area unless Lieutenant Soreso said so. And there's no point for the Lieutenant to deploy me either especially since there are still dungeon gate in need of monitoring in Mindanao, he needs my presence there incase of another break out. I am only interested in looking after Mindanao, and following the Lieutenants order that's all."
Everyone couldn't believe what I just said and some begun to raised question.
"Your the only one who could restore cities, we need your cooperation for this." A politician said.
"You're not going to help your fellow citizens? That's horrible."
"Maybe you are not the person we thought you were."
I look at the lieutenant and he just look at me back. It seems like he's leaving everything to me.
"Ehmm... It seems like you misunderstood me at all. First and foremost my priority is the safety of Mindanao meaning I won't just go away anywhere without an assurance that Mindanao is safe. Second, how dare you call me horrible? I repaired cities after cities, closing one dungeon after another, wiping out monsters that escape the dungeon and you still called me a horrible person when you yourself prioritize Luzon area leaving Mindanao last on the priority list? If not for the fact that the lieutenant is quick thinker and gather people on command from other cities of Mindanao to look for awakened and deploy them whichever places needed them then Mindanao would surely fall and thousands of people will surely die. I endangered myself even though I don't have the obligation to do so. I fully cooperate and offer my abilities even though performing such massive time reversal spell take a toll to my brain making me extremely hot to the point that you can cook an egg on my skin. Despite all of that I am still a horrible person? All I just wanted is to prioritize the safety of those country side people who doesn't have that much military power like Luzon. Are you sure you are not the horrible one?"
Everyone was left speechless to my words. It seems like they now realize what they have just done.
"I'm so sorry if I cannot trust decision making to others and leave everything to Lieutenant Soreso. After all among all of you in here, he is the only one who would prioritize the safety of Mindanao over the capital if things were to get real messy." I added and return to my seat.
"That was great act, good thing I recorded it, let's post it online later." David whispered.
Oh, was he thinking that I was acting? Should I tell him that I did not?
"That was a good one. You really did attack them at their most vulnerable area. With that we can gather the sympathy of the masses and get all the benefits we can hahaha."
How could I tell them that It's not an act if they're acting like this?
"Yes yes lieutenant, please ask them for money that is enough to buy me an Iphone." I said, pretending that we're on the same bus.
"You just want an Iphone? Your rewards from this is surely great. I'll give you enough money later to buy yourself a new Iphone. Consider this as my gift for you."
He said.
"Really? If you give it to me as a gift then I won't decline. I could finally use a better camera for my selfie's to increase my likes."
"That's bullshit. It's not that obvious that you are obsessed with likes so much." David said.
"Well at least I'm only obsessed with likes and not with different varieties of at least 60 fleshlight hidden in a secret compartment in his wardrobe."
He then put his hand on my mouth while his face is getting redder and redder.
"My son David, I understand your needs but I'm sure you don't need that much at all do you?" Lieutenant commented.
"Just kill me" David said while hiding in his palms due to embarrassment.
Suddenly the spoke person talk to his mic and everyone who was taking has stopped and look at the speaker.
It seems like he did talk to someone just for a second, off the mic, while we are talking here.
"I sincerely apologize on behalf of the painful comments of the politicians here. They didn't mean to harm you and they only act like that because they care in this country. Please don't take it by heart."
He said, I didn't reply and just nod.
"Now let's continue to the last agenda, let's talk about the Marinduque incident. We are actually inviting awakened people all over the Philippines to subjugation the lich that is reigning on that place and reclaim it. Both Halk Eye and Light Speed Hero shows interest in participating as well. Majority of awakened who are here with us as well will participate but we still haven't personally invited you both The Titan and Mindanao's Guardian and ask your cooperation."
The speaker really is calling us with names that are just given to us by people and not our real names. Ahh I remember the reason, it's probably something related to human psychology. He probably is doing this to make us feel like we are actually needed in this operation.
"When will that happen?" The mad titan asks.
"Three days from now since Light Speed Hero and Hawk eye needed to take some break as well."
It seems to me like they are greatly monitoring those two. I feel like there is something fishy about it.
"I see, then I'll participate." He replied.
Everyone look at my direction and waited for my answer.
"3 days from now is the 17th day of 2nd batch of dungeons. Although weaker dungeons has been dealt with by awakens already, but strong one's are still there and present. I want to deal with all of them in Mindanao, I could feel that if I leave them alone, those monsters will escape and wreak havoc again in Mindanao anytime. Sorry but you have to coordinate and ask for permission in Lieutenant Soreso, he's the only one that I entrusted with every decision making related to my deployment."
Everyone begins to talk among themselves, I could even heard some of them accusing Mr. Soreso to be a person who would hinder government actions.
"Is that so? Then Lieutenant Soreso, can he join the incoming subjugation?"
The speaker already ask Mr. Soreso directly.
"I already created a plan for his deployment in cities with gates on Mindanao. His schedule are full already and it would take him some time to even repair cities outside of Mindanao. Given the current situation, it's impossible for him to attend the reclamation mission on Marinduque Island City."
Everyone did not like what they heard and even the Titan reacted.
"Aren't you basically using his powers for yourself?" He asks and everyone agreed to him.
"No, I'm using his powers in the benefit of those who lives in Mindanao. You three strong awakened will be there anyways so I don't see the need to send Mindanao's greatest power to just reclaimed an Island that will be swarmed by awakens later on." Mr. Soreso said.
"Mr. Soreso you are a Lieutenant, it was your duty to protect this country." The speaker who couldn't handle it anymore, said.
"Yes, I am. But not Archie remember? He is still a normal citizen that we need to protect according to our laws. The very normal citizen that you are trying to send in a very dangerous mission. There are no law yet that says every awakened will be part of military is it? Hunter association is still not here to take care of that issue so every awakened here can still be considered as a normal citizen unless if they are soldiers from the start who has been awakened. If you need me in the subjugation mission then I'll come but I won't bring him with me. I won't leave Mindanao without some sort of protection."
Everyone was baffled by the Lieutenants words. They seems to forget a very important thing that there are no laws yet for the awakens. And they are using them so casually like they are some kind of militants. Although they have powers, that doesn't mean they are obligated to fight the monster. They are still basically normal citizens according to the laws. Especially now that we are still in a Martial Law where military is the highest authority. Normal citizens are not to be expected to fight during a war unless they are willing and trained to.